Football pundit, Jamie Carragher, has responded to backlash over his past remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations, which many interpreted as dismissive.
The former Liverpool defender faced criticism for suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were low because he was not participating in a “major tournament,” referring to AFCON.
Speaking on a broadcast show following Tuesday’s Champions League match, Carragher admitted that his wording was inappropriate.
“What I would never want to be described as, as a pundit, would be ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim, whether that’s to a player, a club, a country, a continent, an international tournament—whatever that may be,” he stated.
He clarified that his initial comments were based on historical Ballon d’Or voting trends rather than a personal stance on AFCON’s importance.
“Where I got it wrong was I was clumsy with my language in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was trying to explain the merits of Mo Salah winning the Ballon d’Or, and I feel that not just AFCON but also tournaments like the Asia Games and Gold Cup don’t resonate with the people who vote for the award,” he explained.
Carragher also pointed out that Ballon d’Or voters have traditionally favoured competitions like the UEFA European Championship.
“Sometimes we forget that the Ballon d’Or was originally the European Footballer of the Year award,” he added, suggesting that this historical context might influence voting patterns.
While reaffirming his support for Salah’s Ballon d’Or prospects, Carragher acknowledged the criticism but stressed that his intent was never to offend.
